Aldershot Town succumbed to a 2-1 loss in their opening game of the 2025-26 National League Cup, as Brighton & Hove Albion U21 came back from a goal down to claim all three points at the EBB Stadium. A terrific chip from Hady Ghandour was cancelled out by an unfortunate own goal from Cameron Hargreaves, before Shane Nti’s winner decided matters in an all-action second-half.
The earlier kick-off time of 7pm was a potentially unwelcome one on a sweltering August evening, however, both sides were allowed an early water break following a brief stoppage in play as Seagulls skipper received treatment for injury. The England U17 international found himself in some discomfort, initially attempting to play through the pain, before coming off around the ten-minute mark.
On the back of a goalscoring competitive debut, James Clarridge looked to turn creator, providing a series testing passes over the top of the Brighton back-line, unfortunately to no avail. Keane Anderson and Cameron Hargeaves showed their relative seniority in midfield, calmly controlling the tempo of the affair in the opening section of the game.
Brighton would be frustrated on the 25-minute-mark. Shane Nti showed good strength in hold-up play before laying Joshua Robertson in the middle of the park, whose first time ball out right looked destined to fall to Tyler Silsby in on goal, however, referee Harry Wager was left to apologise after inadvertently stopping a dangerous Brighton counter-attack with his torso.
Silsby would eventually get his chance to cause trouble in the Aldershot box, driving well down his right-hand-side before squaring to Nti, whose first-time shot blazed high and wide. A similar combination just before half-time saw the right-winger play in Josh Robertson on the edge of the box, the Seagulls’ number 50 jinking to grab a yard of space before firing on his left, just wide of Pat Nash’s top-left. This passage of play somewhat summed up a half that saw plenty of quality from either side, though no shots on taget to show for it.
HALF-TIME
The visitors started the second-half strongly, putting pressure on a makeshift Aldershot back line that saw Maxwell Mullins filling in at center half. A corner was headed out well by the Shots’ no. 24, however the resulting second ball found right-back Charlie Tasker on the edge of the area, who set himself well to connect with a powerful strike, though the trajectory was once again high of the mark.
Brighton almost received a gift shortly before the hour mark as Callum Mackley’s ball over the top bounced awkwardly leaving Pat Nash in uncertain territory on the edge of the box with Tasker reacting first in behind, poking the ball past the Shots keeper. While for a split second an opening goal looked an absolute certainty, Nash recovered magnificently to grasp the ball from his opponents feet to keep things level.
The hosts would create a chance of their own shortly after, as Ryan Hill collected a long-ball out right before squaring to fellow substitute Hady Ghandour on the edge of the box. Playing in Keane Anderson, his low shot trickled tantalisingly wide of the post with the aid of a deflection.
Having teased his vision in the first half, Clarridge’s long-range passing eventually paid dividends in the 70th minute, has a ball from deep within his own half was met on the edge of the area by Hady Ghandour’s perfectly timed run. The midfielder, who displayed his finishing prowess on numerous occasions in pre-season, lobbed Brighton goalkeeper Steven Hall on the half-volley, before peeling away to celebrate the Shots’ first competitive goal of the new season. 1-0.
The lead didn’t last long however as a mix-up at the back resulted in an own goal for Cameron Hargeaves. The hosts’ skipper on the night received the ball travelling towards his own box before playing a backpass to Nash, which unfortunately finds its way into the net.
Brighton would compile the Shots’ frustration shortly after the restart, as a clash between several players on the half-way line sees Mullins down hurt, allowing the fresh legs of Henry Kasvosve to race down on goal. The substitute squared to Shane Nti, who could do nothing else but give the Seagulls a maiden lead.
Cameron Hargreaves almost levelled the scoring once more, arriving late to the edge of the box after a slick corner routine, however an important block from Mackley preserved the visitors’ slender advantage.
The young Seagulls would defend well in the final period of the game, holding their lead and leaving with all three points.
Attendance: 576
Shots lineup: 16. Pat Nash, 7. Cameron Hargreaves (C), 10. Josh Barrett (19. Ryan Hill 63′), 12. Keane Anderson, 14. Jed Meerholz (26. Joe Lewis-Evans 90′), 18. Kiban Rai, 24. Maxwell Mullins, 28. Archy Taylor, 30. Tristan Abrahams (23. Hady Ghandour 63′), 32. James Clarridge (20. Haydon Vaughan 90′), 38. Trialist
Subs not used: 1. Marcus Dewhurst, 6. Theo Widdrington, 25. Will Nightingale
Brighton lineup: 61. Steven Hall, 45. Jacob Slater, 50. Joshua Robertson, 51. Charlie Tasker, 52. Zane Albarus, 54. Freddie Simmonds (C) (66. Callum Mackley 9′), 55. Charlie Penman, 58. Nehemiah Oriola (44. Sean Keogh 86′), 59. Joe Belmont (86. Jacob Parsons 86′), 68. Shane Nti, 71. Tyler Silsby (76. Henry Kasvosve 74′)
Subs not used: 64. Sebastian Jensen, 46. Bigo Atom, 57. Yussif Owusu
